Ariel
Lost RPG
Cashy-money: $88,900
Posts: 6,757
Harry Potter RPG:
- Cami Laroux
- Draco Malfoy
- Morgana Parkinson
- Odin Markell/Ashworth Jones
- Scorpius Malfoy
- Shane Hudson
_________________________
Marvel RPG:
- Nebula
_________________________
Ready Player One RPG:
- Emmett Rodgers
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver
- Vye Davidson/Ripple
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Bennett "Rom" Friendly
- Harley-Rae Stone
- Jack Shephard
- Linda Pace
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Dracula/Vladimir Lee
_________________________
The Walking Dead RPG:
- Enid Snow
- Hazel Valentino
- Ingrid Snow
_________________________
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Post by Ariel on May 24, 2020 21:00:00 GMT -8
Although the day was still young, Jack was already feeling the exhaustion from the incredibly busy morning he had with Gwen down at the beach tending to those who needed their medical assistance. Jack relished in a moment of calm as he decompressed in the shade of the cave across the medical table from his newly hired nurse. Jack appreciated the second of rest they were receiving before they encountered the next wave of work, even if it was spent in preparation. He thumbed through the prescription bottles that they had left, retaking inventory from what they had used this morning as Gwen made bandages and indulged in some small talk.
"Veuve Clicquot all over one of the most brilliant musicians of all time!" "He was really, really nice about it, though. Very understanding. But I still wanted to open the emergency exit and fling myself out of it. Ugh, it was awful!"
Jack peered up from the orange bottle he held in his hand in reaction to the punch line of Gwen's story. His face wrinkled in amusement as he inwardly chuckled as Gwen re-experienced what could go down as one of the most embarrassing moments of all time, "And you survived to tell the tale," Jack was impressed, as he was sure she handled the situation with upmost grace just as she handled everything else. He peered down at her makeshift bandage work and nodded in approval, "Look at that. One day and you're practically a natural. You sure you weren't a doctor in a past life?" Raising his eyebrows, Jack grinned as he was enjoying their conversation. Gwen was so easy to talk to, he could just sit in the caves and talk to her all day - in a perfect world, that is.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on May 25, 2020 17:33:31 GMT -8
"And you survived to tell the tale. Look at that. One day and you're practically a natural. You sure you weren't a doctor in a past life?"
"Well, I have a very patient teacher," Gwen replied, grateful for the encouragement but still feeling a bit in over her head. Being entrusted with the medical care of over forty other people in less than ideal circumstances. Yet somehow Jack believed she could do it, and she felt this drive to not disappoint him.
"No past lives that I know of, but my parents probably would have liked that a lot more than me working in television. That's a whole 'nother lifetime I'll have to tell you about someday," she mused. "What about you? Did you always want to be a doctor?"
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Ariel
Lost RPG
Cashy-money: $88,900
Posts: 6,757
Harry Potter RPG:
- Cami Laroux
- Draco Malfoy
- Morgana Parkinson
- Odin Markell/Ashworth Jones
- Scorpius Malfoy
- Shane Hudson
_________________________
Marvel RPG:
- Nebula
_________________________
Ready Player One RPG:
- Emmett Rodgers
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver
- Vye Davidson/Ripple
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Bennett "Rom" Friendly
- Harley-Rae Stone
- Jack Shephard
- Linda Pace
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Dracula/Vladimir Lee
_________________________
The Walking Dead RPG:
- Enid Snow
- Hazel Valentino
- Ingrid Snow
_________________________
|
Post by Ariel on Jun 6, 2020 8:33:49 GMT -8
"What about you? Did you always want to be a doctor?"
Jack grin kept his expression neutral, yet the wheels in his head were turning. This was a question patients and people had asked him through his entire career, and the answer was always upbeat and generic. At this point, every single one of the survivors on the island were exposed and vulnerable. He felt that if he had given the same answer as the man he once was, that people would see right through him. Jack didn't know it yet, but he was changing. Just as they all were.
"I always wanted to help people, especially those who couldn't help themselves," Jack looked up at Gwen from the prescription bottle in his hand with a genuine smile, "My father was one of the greatest surgeons in L.A," Jack looked back down at his hands, keeping them busy as he spoke in reminiscence, "He was respected and loved by all of his patients and colleagues, but our relationship was different. We disagreed a lot when I was a kid, he would tell me that I didn't 'have what it takes' to be a hero," Jack sat back and paused for a moment as his expression grew sorrowful as he recalled not only his childhood but the meaning behind his entire career, "Sometimes I worry that I wasted more than half of my career trying to gain acceptance from someone that was never willing to give. Agh," Jack shook his head in an attempt to shake off his downer attitude as he started to become aware of just how personal the conversation was becoming, "Sorry, I uh, I don't know why I said all that. It doesn't matter anymore. None of it does."
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jun 6, 2020 12:45:55 GMT -8
"Sometimes I worry that I wasted more than half of my career trying to gain acceptance from someone that was never willing to give. Agh, sorry, I uh, I don't know why I said all that. It doesn't matter anymore. None of it does."
"Of course it does, Jack," Gwen insisted. "I'm fairly sure all the people you helped, their families and friends, they don't think you were wasting your time." It pained her to see any sort of resignation or doubt on his face. After all, he had gone out of his way since day one to care for everyone else, even with his own dislocated shoulder. And if he started to break, then everyone who was looking to him for leadership would begin to do the same.
"But if you want to compare disappointed parents, it was the other way around in my case," she confided, having completed bandage-making and moved on to sewing kits that could be used for stitching. "My dad's an estate agent back in England, charming and laid-back, but Mum? Cut-throat social climber. Wanted only for her daughters to marry well and give her very photogenic grandchildren. And I've failed on both counts," she added with a sigh. "It all sort of came to a head in Sydney at my sister Helena's wedding. Wine was consumed, words were exchanged, cut to me requesting an earlier flight just to get out of town. If I hadn't been in such a rush to run from my problems, I might not even be here."
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Ariel
Lost RPG
Cashy-money: $88,900
Posts: 6,757
Harry Potter RPG:
- Cami Laroux
- Draco Malfoy
- Morgana Parkinson
- Odin Markell/Ashworth Jones
- Scorpius Malfoy
- Shane Hudson
_________________________
Marvel RPG:
- Nebula
_________________________
Ready Player One RPG:
- Emmett Rodgers
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver
- Vye Davidson/Ripple
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Bennett "Rom" Friendly
- Harley-Rae Stone
- Jack Shephard
- Linda Pace
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Dracula/Vladimir Lee
_________________________
The Walking Dead RPG:
- Enid Snow
- Hazel Valentino
- Ingrid Snow
_________________________
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Post by Ariel on Jun 13, 2020 9:51:55 GMT -8
"...If I hadn't been in such a rush to run from my problems, I might not even be here."
Jack sensed the regret that Gwen was suffering. The two of them could sit around and throw enough 'What if's' and pity parties around for everyone stranded on the island. Yet, he knew that would not help their case. If anything, the mindsets they worked so hard at achieving to survive at this point would begin to deteriorate if they continued on. Jack knew he struggled inwardly with his leadership role, and he knew that he had to be better.
"Locke told me that he thinks everything on this island is happening for a reason. As for me, I'm not too sure I believe in destiny or fate. But maybe there's a reason why you're here instead of someone else," Jack looked up at Gwen and grinned as he began to store the prescription bottles away, "Maybe the universe figured I couldn't do this on my own. Take care of everybody, listen to their needs. If it's worth anything, I'm glad you're here, Gwen," Jack was grateful for her, for he knew he couldn't possibly get through this without her. Gwen became his rock, and he needed her to know just how much he appreciated her, "Gwen, I..."
Yet, before Jack could press onward, their conversation become interrupted.
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Ariel
Lost RPG
Cashy-money: $88,900
Posts: 6,757
Harry Potter RPG:
- Cami Laroux
- Draco Malfoy
- Morgana Parkinson
- Odin Markell/Ashworth Jones
- Scorpius Malfoy
- Shane Hudson
_________________________
Marvel RPG:
- Nebula
_________________________
Ready Player One RPG:
- Emmett Rodgers
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver
- Vye Davidson/Ripple
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Bennett "Rom" Friendly
- Harley-Rae Stone
- Jack Shephard
- Linda Pace
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Dracula/Vladimir Lee
_________________________
The Walking Dead RPG:
- Enid Snow
- Hazel Valentino
- Ingrid Snow
_________________________
|
Post by Ariel on Jun 13, 2020 9:59:20 GMT -8
*** Linda enters the Caves ***
Linda could barely contain her excitement. Her quickened pace began to slow as she approached the caves. Glowing with enthusiasm that she hadn't felt or expressed since they crash landed, Linda was incredibly proud of what her and Hurley had been working incredibly hard on for everyone to enjoy. The first part of their mission had been accomplished, now it was time for the fun part. Wiping the sweat from her brow, Linda was all smiles as she scanned the caves to see if she could find their first recruits. Spotting Jack and Gwen at the makeshift medical corner, Linda jaunted right over to them.
"Hey, Jack! Gwen!" Linda finally caught her breath as she approached where they were sitting, "Me and Hurley made something, something that I think will help everyone take their minds off of things. You gotta come see it." Linda insisted, as she was determined to not go back to Hurley empty handed.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jun 13, 2020 20:51:51 GMT -8
"Locke told me that he thinks everything on this island is happening for a reason. ... If it's worth anything, I'm glad you're here, Gwen."
"Yeah, me too," Gwen replied with a warm smile. Part of it was merely a personal wish to not be idle. If she could keep her hands and her mind busy, it would keep the fear at bay. But another significant part of it was being in Jack's company and somehow helping to ease the burden that he'd placed on himself for the benefit of everyone else. Relying on someone for support and knowing they could rely on you in return.
"Locke certainly seems to be in his element, though," she observed, of their enigmatic, knife-wielding bald friend. "Hunting and tracking boar, which is a good thing for all of us. But I don't believe in fate. We make choices, and we do our best to deal with the consequences. If some higher power decided to crash our plane and strand us on this island, perhaps he could have chosen a more subtle way to deliver his message."
"Gwen, I..."
"Hey, Jack! Gwen! Me and Hurley made something, something that I think will help everyone take their minds off of things. You gotta come see it."
Suddenly, a breathless Linda had returned to the cave. Gwen hadn't thought to wonder where she'd been until she just announced that she and Hurley had been working on a project. "What do you think, Doctor?" she asked. "Time to close the clinic for a lunch break?"
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Ariel
Lost RPG
Cashy-money: $88,900
Posts: 6,757
Harry Potter RPG:
- Cami Laroux
- Draco Malfoy
- Morgana Parkinson
- Odin Markell/Ashworth Jones
- Scorpius Malfoy
- Shane Hudson
_________________________
Marvel RPG:
- Nebula
_________________________
Ready Player One RPG:
- Emmett Rodgers
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver
- Vye Davidson/Ripple
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Bennett "Rom" Friendly
- Harley-Rae Stone
- Jack Shephard
- Linda Pace
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Dracula/Vladimir Lee
_________________________
The Walking Dead RPG:
- Enid Snow
- Hazel Valentino
- Ingrid Snow
_________________________
|
Post by Ariel on Jun 28, 2020 16:40:26 GMT -8
"Hey, Jack! Gwen! Me and Hurley made something, something that I think will help everyone take their minds off of things. You gotta come see it."
"What do you think, Doctor?" she asked. "Time to close the clinic for a lunch break?"
Jack looked from Linda to Gwen. His expression was rather puzzled, yet intrigue began to strike him as to what exactly Linda and Hurley had conjured up behind the scenes. Figuring they could use a distraction from not only work but from the depressing atmosphere that grew rather heavy, Jack finally nodded in agreement, "I think I can allow that," He grinned as he brought himself to his feet as him and Gwen began to follow Linda into the jungle, "So, what did you guys make exactly?"
*** Jack, Gwen and Linda exit to the Golf Course ***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 5, 2021 18:17:58 GMT -8
The rest of Day 13 and all of Day 14
pass by fairly uneventfully. It is now:
Day 15 - Mid-Day
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 24, 2022 18:52:19 GMT -8
***Kate and Gwen enter from F3 - Jungle Outskirts of Caves***
"Well, I'm not sure which explanation I prefer," "Cold-blooded killer, rogue polar bear...or some deadly danger we don't even know about yet." "Here, let me help,"
"Thanks," she said, distractedly mulling over Gwen's words as Gwen took Jack's backpack from her, relieving her hand from the strap that had begun digging into her fingers with the weight of it. Did Gwen really believe that a cold-blooded killer was potentially one of the options? Polar bears and something big enough to knock down trees, they'd seen evidence of, but no hints of a cold-blooded killer in the fifteen days they'd all been living in relatively close proximity to each other.
Kate had continued mulling it over in companionable silence on the short walk the rest of the way to the caves, bringing each of the passengers to mind and the little she knew about them. By the time they reached the clearing, Gwen looked as if she'd gathered herself enough to at least hide what she was feeling from any curious eyes who might pick up on it. They crouched near the small pile of leftover fruit and began building it up again with the contents of their backpacks.
Perhaps Gwen was being facetious but just in case, Kate broached the subject after glancing around to be sure no prying ears were nearby. "You got to interact with a lot of the passengers during the flight. Did anyone seem a bit... off to you?"
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Sept 25, 2022 12:06:58 GMT -8
"You got to interact with a lot of the passengers during the flight. Did anyone seem a bit... off to you?"
Gwen shook her head in response. "No one that stood out," she answered. "But it was a full, trans-Pacific flight, and I was only working the first class section. We weren't even informed that there was a Marshal escorting a prisoner on the plane. Those handcuffs were as much a surprise to me as everyone else."
After voicing her concerns, Gwen busied herself with removing fruit from the bag and adding it to the pile like Kate was doing. "I know Jack's right, there are any number of logical explanations, but I don't understand why Sebastian was so far inland when we found him," she remarked. "He wouldn't have gone that far from the camp, not intentionally. It just ... it doesn't make sense."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Oct 5, 2022 8:27:40 GMT -8
The subject of the Marshall and handcuffs was what had seemed to immediately come to Gwen's mind. It had definitely been a worry that had crossed Kate's own mind. It was a logical conclusion to jump to, which was why it was more important than ever that her connection to the Marshall and those handcuffs was not made.
Best course of action would be to not add any input of her own to it. Acting as if she shared that same belief would only make herself look more guilty or manipulative if it was ever found out that she'd been the person the Marshal had been escorting and trying to dissuade the thought that it might not be the person who'd been in handcuffs would only raise the curious thoughts as to why Kate would feel the need to defend that mystery person.
Kate was saved from looking objectively contemplative on the notion for too long as Gwen continued.
"I know Jack's right, there are any number of logical explanations, but I don't understand why Sebastian was so far inland when we found him," "He wouldn't have gone that far from the camp, not intentionally. It just ... it doesn't make sense."
"A lot of people are still getting their bearings. Unless you have some experience with hiking and exploring in the wild or have been taught how to track, the jungle can look the same no matter which direction you travel. Maybe he'd gotten lost. Several people have. Most eventually find their way here or to the beach, but not all." She shrugged, placing the last of the fruit from her pack onto the pile, then turned her attention more toward Gwen. "We had to send a search party out for Linda and Heidi," she reminded. A thought as to why he may have gone off course so much struck her. "Maybe he was looking for something. Did he mention anything he'd lost during the crash? Something important to him?"
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Oct 8, 2022 17:19:13 GMT -8
"We had to send a search party out for Linda and Heidi.... Maybe he was looking for something. Did he mention anything he'd lost during the crash? Something important to him?"
Gwen had been a part of that same search party with Sebastian, Stu, and Bennett, who had only found Linda and Heidi with a great deal of luck. She wasn't sure which outcome was worse -- finding him dead, or not finding him at all, forever lost to the jungle.
"His books," Gwen finally replied after a ponderous silence. "His books were important to him, but he'd found those. When I saw that they'd been left on the beach, I thought something must be wrong." Her own bag now empty of fruit and her fidgeting hands unoccupied, she clasped them in her lap. "Sebastian was a typical Brit," she recalled. "Charming, self-deprecating, restrained. Not one to overshare their emotions or issues, very anti-LA. He was kind enough to sit there and listen to mine. I know it seems like I'm making a fuss over someone I barely knew. But now I'll never get the chance to."
Gwen winced ashamedly when her gaze came back to meet Kate's sympathetic expression. "Ugh, God, I'm sorry. This sounds so selfish, making it all about me."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Oct 22, 2022 12:09:54 GMT -8
...I know it seems like I'm making a fuss over someone I barely knew. But now I'll never get the chance to."
Gwen's revelation had Kate going into contemplative thought about Jack and Sawyer heading out to the same area Sebastian was found. If it turned out what had happened was not an accident, there was a possibility that the two were walking into the same dire situation. The thought of losing that same chance was disquieting, and the realization that she was feeling that way regarding both men added new, unwelcoming complications.
"Ugh, God, I'm sorry. This sounds so selfish, making it all about me."
If Gwen could have read Kate's mind, she wouldn't have accused herself of being the selfish one when Kate's thoughts had pushed out the actual victim to ponder hypotheticals about two men.
Kate gave Gwen a warm smile. "There's no need to apologize for caring." Kate pulled a small pocketknife from her back pocket as she grabbed a mango from the pile. "Not everyone would have taken note of someone missing," she said, cutting a slice out and holding it out to Gwen. "Most would have brought it to the attention of others and left it at that." She shook her head as she cut a slice for herself. "But you took the risk of trekking into the jungle to look for him." Kate's tone was easy and observational, in no way accusatory toward the very understandable reason why most would not have taken the risk.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Oct 23, 2022 8:36:29 GMT -8
"There's no need to apologize for caring. Not everyone would have taken note of someone missing. Most would have brought it to the attention of others and left it at that. But you took the risk of trekking into the jungle to look for him."
“Thank you,” Gwen replied, accepting both the fruit and the kind words that accompanied it from Kate. “I did consider telling Jack, but I didn’t want to put anything else on his shoulders. Not right now. He’s already so concerned about Claire’s condition, along with everything else."
Aware that both women had respect and trust, and perhaps more, for the resident doctor, Gwen wondered if she should further explain her choice to leave Jack out of the loop. And to put her faith in Jack's polar opposite among the survivors. "At least I wasn't trekking alone," she began. "I didn’t intend to bring Sawyer into this. I figured I could count on his discretion since he never talks to anyone else, except perhaps you. I promised him a pack of cigarettes if he would come with me. I suppose I owe him more than that now.”
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Oct 30, 2022 12:37:58 GMT -8
“Thank you,” “I did consider telling Jack, but I didn’t want to put anything else on his shoulders. Not right now. He’s already so concerned about Claire’s condition, along with everything else."
Kate nodded in understanding and agreement. That man took on way too much on his own volition. He really didn't need others to pile any more on and that's exactly what they would be doing because she was sure the man didn't know how to say 'no'.
"At least I wasn't trekking alone,"
Smart of anyone to not trek alone on this island. There were circumstances where not wanting to bother others went from courteousness to foolishness. Kate could hardly claim to not have taken the foolish route on more than one occasion. Having been turned in by her own mother had cut deep and she'd had trouble allowing herself to trust people since.
"I didn’t intend to bring Sawyer into this. I figured I could count on his discretion since he never talks to anyone else, except perhaps you. I promised him a pack of cigarettes if he would come with me. I suppose I owe him more than that now.”
Kate paused in cutting another slice, frowning slightly before speaking adamantly. "You don't owe Sawyer any more than what you'd already promised." Gwen shouldn't have had to promise anything in the first place, but she had, so Kate wouldn't hold it against James--referring to him by his real name in her thoughts--to collect on that. But if he tries to take advantage of the too polite flight attendant, she's going to have some words for him. "If he tries to come at you for more, he and I will have one of those talks." Holding out another slice to Gwen, Kate grinned slightly at referencing Gwen's comment about her being one of the few James talked to, though there was a steeliness in her eyes that showed she was very serious.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Nov 6, 2022 14:58:38 GMT -8
"You don't owe Sawyer any more than what you'd already promised. If he tries to come at you for more, he and I will have one of those talks."
"Duly noted," Gwen said, with an understanding nod and a small smile. "But Sawyer and I made a fair deal, and I intend to honor it. I don't think he's quite the monster he wants everyone to think he is," she added, taking the offered slice of mango from Kate. Living in LA, one became used to other people wearing masks and playing parts, but eventually she'd learned to see through the BS. Jack's compassion was real, as was Kate's self-assuredness, but Sawyer was more difficult to get a read on. Which was probably on purpose.
"It seems we should all do a better job of keeping up with one another," Gwen observed. "I mean, Claire is having terrible nightmares, and now with what's happened to Sebastian...." Her voice trailed off, knowing that Kate was well aware of the dark path her thoughts were traveling down. "Sadly, there's a lot of people whose names I still don't know, even here at the caves. How is everything going back at the beach?" Gwen inquired. "Everyone getting along?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Nov 13, 2022 12:32:30 GMT -8
"Duly noted," "But Sawyer and I made a fair deal, and I intend to honor it.
Kate nodded in understanding. A deal was a deal. He'd lived up to his end, it was only fair that Gwen lived up to hers.
I don't think he's quite the monster he wants everyone to think he is,"
Kate glanced down to cut another slice, keeping what she'd learned about James' childhood from his letter private. "I don't think so, either," was all she offered with a neutral expression before placing another slice into her mouth.
"It seems we should all do a better job of keeping up with one another," "I mean, Claire is having terrible nightmares, and now with what's happened to Sebastian...." "Sadly, there's a lot of people whose names I still don't know, even here at the caves. How is everything going back at the beach?" "Everyone getting along?"
Gwen was right. Kate wasn't the only one who kept to herself or to a small group. Distrust was commonplace in this day and age and she was sure she wasn't the only person with something to hide.
"For the most part. We haven't had any more fights break out." Kate paused to consider that as she studied the people around them. It was their unusual situation that had had fear setting people off, but that seemed to have ebbed with time. She suddenly realized that people were going about their day seemingly in a routine, and mentally thinking over her past few days, she seemed to have fallen into a sort of routine as well.
Her eyes finally went back to Gwen with the new realization. "It seems like everyone's gotten settled in." Which sounded a lot better than 'We've come to accept our circumstances. Life goes on.'
Kate returned to Gwen's previous comment. "There are a lot of people I don't know the names of, either," she admitted, glancing around at the cave's occupants again at several faces that looked so unfamiliar that she wondered if she'd ever exchanged a single word with them in the two-plus weeks they'd been here. "Keeping to ourselves, acclimating to small social groups..." 'blocking out everything else...'. Natural habits of the highly populated world they'd all grown up in. "It's not easy breaking a lifetime of real-world habits," she distractedly observed aloud as she continued to study the people around her, something she hadn't really done since shortly after the crash. She'd stopped paying attention once she'd determined none were a threat to the secret of who she'd been traveling with and eventually, she'd gotten caught up in her own small social group.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Nov 20, 2022 16:40:53 GMT -8
"It seems like everyone's gotten settled in. There are a lot of people I don't know the names of, either. Keeping to ourselves, acclimating to small social groups... It's not easy breaking a lifetime of real-world habits."
"Oh, I know," Gwen said, nodding in agreement. "So many people I likely never would have met if the crash hadn't happened. If I hadn't decided to leave Sydney a day early. You and I might have crossed paths a dozen times and never spoken to one another."
Gwen decided to get to her feet and pick up one of the bags of empty water bottles to be filled by the spring inside the cave. "I confess I've never been one of these outdoorsy types," she offered, "or someone who is able to roll with the punches. Perhaps one day you can teach me how you do it so well."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 4, 2022 12:34:30 GMT -8
With her keeping off the grid, it wasn't likely that they would have crossed paths a dozen times in the real world, but Kate did not voice that. She merely grinned as if in silent agreement.
Kate had followed lead, picking up her own empty pack of bottles and trailing behind Gwen to the spring, removing all the empty bottles from the bag before uncapping and holding the first under the falling water as she considered how to, or even if to, respond to the new topic. Her concentration on the task could easily serve as a reason for the slight delay in responding, even though it wasn't suspicious for someone to consider before sharing something personal.
"I was a military brat. Rolling with the punches is something you adapt to when moving around a lot," she explained, grinning as she looked up a moment to show that she held no resentment toward it, though it was only a partial truth. Recapping the bottle, she put the now full bottle back into her empty pack and continued with the next bottle and so on as she gave a glimpse of her past to Gwen.
Kate didn't really remember that part of her life as she was only five when she and her mom and finally settled in one place after her mother and who she'd thought was her father had split. The truth of her childhood and recent past wasn't something Kate talked about so it would have to do as a plausible reason. The man who'd she'd thought was her father had continued to be a part of her life, probably the only healthy part of her childhood, and it gave Kate a truth she didn't mind sharing. "I spent a lot of time outdoors." Because home was where her abusive birth father, Wayne, was, so she spent all the time she could outside with Tom, dreaming up escaping with him to start a new life, but also, "My dad and I used to go for hikes in the woods." Kate chuckled slightly, thinking about how obsessed her father had always been with the woods. "I'm not talking a short, couple hour walk through nature," she said, capping another bottle and placing it into the growing pile within the pack. "We'd make an entire day of it; wander off the trails, explore, track and observe deer... He taught me everything I know."
Kate shrugged off the complementary way Gwen had stated it. "It's easy to do something well if you grew up with it, but it's not something that can't be learned. I'd be happy to teach you some things," she offered. "So, no woods around where you grew up?" she asked, turning the spotlight away from herself while keeping the conversation going in hopes of keeping Gwen's mind distracted.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Dec 11, 2022 16:42:51 GMT -8
"I was a military brat. Rolling with the punches is something you adapt to when moving around a lot. I spent a lot of time outdoors. My dad and I used to go for hikes in the woods. … It's easy to do something well if you grew up with it, but it's not something that can't be learned. I'd be happy to teach you some things. So, no woods around where you grew up?"
“Not as such, no," Gwen replied, chuckling at her very different upbringing than what Kate had described. “I grew up in London. Then we moved out to the country not long after my sister was born. Somerset, western England. You know those Jane Austen movies?" she asked, trying to paint a picture. "It was a bit like that. Not quite so formal, and certainly not on such large estates. Though my mother was very intent on me and Helena marrying well.”
Gwen stayed quiet for a few moments as she focused on filling a bottle with water, tightening the cap, and replacing the bottle in the duffel bag. "My father's idea of time outdoors was golfing," she confided, "which never really interested me. Y'know, until we opened one here. Poor Jack had to show me how to swing a club. I'm afraid I'm a terrible student. A better nurse than a golfer, I hope.
"But of course I'm interested in whatever you'd be willing to teach me," Gwen asserted. Not just for her own improved chances of survival if stuck here for the long haul, but to actually be of service to others and not a drain on their limited resources.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 18, 2022 10:22:56 GMT -8
Jane Austen novels were exactly what came to her mind when hearing Gwen speak and seeing the way she carried herself, so when Gwen used that very same analogy, Kate had already been on board with it. And with her comment about her mother wanting her to marry well, Kate's mind went right to Pride and Prejudice.
"My father's idea of time outdoors was golfing," "which never really interested me. Y'know, until we opened one here. Poor Jack had to show me how to swing a club. I'm afraid I'm a terrible student. A better nurse than a golfer, I hope.
Amusement touched her lips at the mental image of someone trying to teach a person to swing a club properly, attempting to guide their arms correctly from an awkward standpoint behind them, but then a twinge of something not amusing about this specific scenario struck her when it was Jack in the image. Was that... She wasn't jealous, was she? Convincing herself the notion was ridiculousness, her amusement didn't falter.
"But of course I'm interested in whatever you'd be willing to teach me,"
"I'm ready to start whenever you are, Miss Bennett," Kate said, sending Gwen an amused grin as she held up the last full water bottle and placed it in her pack in a silent gesture that she was ready to head back to the beach to deliver them whenever Gwen was.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Dec 23, 2022 15:17:34 GMT -8
"I'm ready to start whenever you are, Miss Bennett."
"I wish I were that well-spoken," Gwen said, countering the compliment. "At least on the plane, I just follow the script." She began filling the last of the empty water bottles in order to catch up to Kate. "Almost done," she advised. "Though I think we should stay here till Jack and Sawyer get back. I'm curious to know what they found."
Before she and Kate could discuss the situation further, the blonde pregnant girl approached them, looking worried. "Is Jack still at the beach?" Claire asked. "I thought he'd be back by now."
Gwen shared a glance with Kate, well aware they couldn't tell her the truth. "I'm afraid he got side-tracked, but he should be here soon."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 31, 2022 17:06:24 GMT -8
"Though I think we should stay here till Jack and Sawyer get back. I'm curious to know what they found."
Apparently, Kate wasn't doing as good of a job of distracting Gwen as it seemed Sebastian's circumstance was still so readily on her mind. She would just have to do the best she could here at the caves, then. Kate started to nod but before she could respond, Claire had approached them.
"Is Jack still at the beach?" "I thought he'd be back by now."
"I'm afraid he got side-tracked, but he should be here soon."
There was a glance between them in silent understanding that they were about to work together to wing it in talking around the truth. Kate looked to Claire with a warm smile but genuine worry in her eyes and she used her gift of deflecting attention elsewhere. "I heard you've been having trouble sleeping. Is everything alright?"
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jan 6, 2023 18:25:43 GMT -8
"I heard you've been having trouble sleeping. Is everything alright?"
"Oh, just a bad dream," Claire replied with a dismissive wave.
Gwen could understand the girl's wish not to worry Kate; she'd used the same casual tone with Jack when he'd expressed concern. "There are certainly enough things on this island to give a girl bad dreams," Gwen remarked. She was still wondering if the things she herself had seen that afternoon out in the jungle weren't some sort of waking nightmare. "But if there's anything we can do in Jack's absence...." she offered, then remembered the mountain of fresh fruit by the cave's entrance. "Actually, why don't you have a seat, and I'll bring you some of the fruit that Kate brought up from the beach? I'll be right back."
Figuring that Claire might speak more freely with Kate if she weren't around, Gwen arose and walked back over to the cave entrance to gather some mangos and bananas. As she was turning to head back, she found her path blocked by another Englishman.
"Oi, Gwen! Can I borrow some of your tea stash?" Charlie asked.
"What? No, Charlie, I don't have a tea stash," she answered. In truth, the last cup she'd had was thanks to Jasmine, and she'd spent the time talking with Sebastian. "Look, this isn't a good time," she said, trying to sidestep him.
Charlie moved again to stop her motion. "But it's not for me, it's for Claire," he insisted. "Well, and for me. But mostly for Claire."
Gwen sighed and tilted her head to regard him. Charlie meant well, and he did seem very committed to Claire's safety. Plus, there was an air of wounded puppy about the musician that made it hard to deny him. "Alright, I'll see what I can find."
"Brilliant, cheers!" He clapped his hands together in excitement, and finally cleared the way for her to pass.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 8, 2023 13:15:37 GMT -8
"There are certainly enough things on this island to give a girl bad dreams,"
Wasn't that the truth. Kate still would startle awake on occasion when reliving being terrified and alone, hiding in the middle of bamboo trees as something slammed against it. Great. She'd probably relive it again tonight since she'd just brought it fresh into her mind.
Kate pushed those thoughts away to concentrate on Gwen as she'd continued while Kate had been momentarily distracted.
...anything we can do in Jack's absence...." "Actually, why don't you have a seat, and I'll bring you some of the fruit that Kate brought up from the beach? I'll be right back."
Kate grinned to Gwen with an 'I've got it from here' nod as she settled next to Claire.
"Wanna tell me about it?" she offered.
Claire took a moment to consider. "I dreamt someone was attacking me," she glanced down, recalling the details more specifically and how it seemed to revolve around her belly, causing her to put a protective hand on her stomach. "They were trying to hurt my baby."
With a pained expression, Kate took Claire's hand. "That's awful. I've heard that pregnancy can mess with your dreams." Claire didn't elaborate as it seemed that was the gist of the nightmare. Kate was sure it was not a topic Claire wanted to dwell on. "How are you doing otherwise?"
Claire sighed, looking down at her giant belly. "Everything's getting a bit cumbersome... standing up, walking; more like waddling... sitting, lying down..."
Kate grinned. "So... basically any movement or non-movement of any kind?" she teased.
Claire chuckled, blushing slightly over the realization as Kate pointed it out. "Look at me. I'm as big as a house!" she said with arms out, chuckling more, a bit of a self-conscious air about her.
Kate laughed along with her, handing her a bottle of water. "Nah, you're exactly as you should be. You're beautiful, Claire," she reassured, taking in her pretty face, made even prettier by the glow of approaching motherhood which made Kate grin. "Look at you, you're glowing."
Claire took the bottle of water, glancing shyly down a moment at the appreciative compliment during a time she wasn't feeling particularly beautiful. "Eh, it's just the humidity," she joked as she made a show of swiping her forehead with her sleeve before taking a drink.
Kate laughed, shaking her head in disagreement as she, too, took a drink, happy to see Claire smiling again.
Claire was grinning over making Kate laugh in return. Just a few minutes in Gwen and Kate's company, and she was already in better spirits. Charlie was very thoughtful and very attentive, sometimes a bit too attentive, not knowing when she just needed some alone time. It felt as if most of her time was with him, with visits from Jack sprinkled in. It was nice having a little girl time.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jan 14, 2023 18:03:37 GMT -8
Gwen walked back over to Kate and Claire, resuming her seat and handing a mango and banana over to the girl. She seemed to be in slightly better spirits. "Here you go," she said. "Apologies for the lack of variety in the Oceanic lunch menu. I'm sure the company will make it up to you. In fact, you and your child will likely never have to pay for a flight ever again."
"Right, sure," Claire nodded as she began to unpeel the banana. "Well, actually, I was headed to LA to meet this couple. They're gonna' adopt the baby."
"Oh? I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to presume," Gwen replied. "It must be hard to go through all this alone. Well, alone and surrounded by 40-odd strangers."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 11, 2023 18:48:15 GMT -8
As Claire was starting on the banana, Kate took the mango while retrieving the knife at her waist with her other hand, then began to slice it as she listened.
"Well, actually, I was headed to LA to meet this couple. They're gonna' adopt the baby."
"Oh? I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to presume," "It must be hard to go through all this alone. Well, alone and surrounded by 40-odd strangers."
Kate had glanced over at Gwen after Claire dropped that bombshell. Her initial assumption was that Claire was giving her baby to a couple she knew and trusted, possibly family, an old friend, or, at the very least, an acquaintance of someone she trusted. Why else fly halfway around the world when you could find adoptive parents locally? But something about the way Claire said it had her curiosity and confusion peaked and she found she couldn't change the subject, as she'd initially planned to do. "'Meet'?" she questioned. "As in, for the first time, in person?" Claire's silent quirk of her mouth confirmed Kate's suspicion in the way Claire had made her statement. "You didn't know them, at all?"
Claire shook her head as she placed the empty banana peel aside and took the slice of mango Kate offered. She took a bite to buy herself some time to explain, figuring that Kate and Gwen were wondering, why L.A. Swallowing, Claire explained. "This psychic insisted they had to be the ones to raise this baby."
While never even talking to a couple you were considering giving your child to via phone or e-mail was odd, several semi-logical explanations had popped into Kate's head, such as wanting to have a continental divide between herself and a child she wouldn't be raising herself, but the answer she got was nowhere near what she was expecting. Kate blinked, momentarily wondering if Claire was making a strange joke. She didn't buy into the whole psychic thing but didn't want to offend Claire, or even Gwen, if they did buy into that nonsense. "That's--"
"Crazy? I know."
"I was gonna say 'oddly specific' but..." Kate left it at that with a silent agreement with Claire's choice of word.
"He was really persistent, so I figured, why not?" That was putting it mildly. Claire didn't elaborate the harassment level lengths that Richard Malkin had gone to, to get her to finally give in. It was a whole other level of crazy beyond what they might already think of her decision and if they knew, they'd probably think she, herself, was crazy.
Her lack of sleep was catching up to her and she grasped at it to escape further questions. "I think I'll catch a nap." Struggling to her feet, Claire gave a grin of gratitude to both Gwen and Kate who'd automatically reached up to assist her. "Thanks for the food and the company."
Kate watched Claire head for her nook, recognizing when a person was making an escape. "I have so many questions," she said in an unhopeful tone of someone who wouldn't be getting the answers. Realizing she still held a forgotten half of a sliced mango, she took a slice with her free hand and took a bite as she offered some to Gwen with her eyes still on Claire.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Feb 18, 2023 17:25:51 GMT -8
"'Meet'? As in, for the first time, in person? You didn't know them, at all?"
"This psychic insisted they had to be the ones to raise this baby."
"That's--"
"Crazy? I know."
"I was gonna say 'oddly specific' but..."
"He was really persistent, so I figured, why not? I think I'll catch a nap. Thanks for the food and the company."
"I have so many questions."
"Me, too," Gwen concurred as she took the offered slice of fruit. “Pretty rubbish psychic if he didn’t see the plane crash coming. I think I'd demand a refund.” She chewed quietly and thoughtfully, but then realized Kate may not have aligned with her sense of humor, or coping mechanism more accurately.
"Poor girl. And Charlie's beside himself with worry," she added, recalling the task she'd taken on at his request. "He wants me to find some tea for Claire. Tea and dark humor -- I'm afraid that's how we Brits deal with tragedy. Or stress. Or anything unpleasant, really."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 3, 2023 15:51:12 GMT -8
Kate let out a single, dry laugh. "If he can talk people into believing he can see the future, then I'm pretty sure he can talk them around into believing it was their fault things didn't go right. 'Well, if you'd have consulted me with your itinerary, I'd've told you not to take that flight...'" she said dryly.
Kate shook her head as she chewed the last bite of mango, wondering why Claire had fallen for that. Claire did have a more fanciful imagination, what with her belieF and extensive knowledge of all that horoscope nonsense, but things like psychics and mediums were an entirely next-level brand of nonsense run by low-level con artists and Claire seemed too bright to be buying into that.
"Poor girl. And Charlie's beside himself with worry," "He wants me to find some tea for Claire. Tea and dark humor -- I'm afraid that's how we Brits deal with tragedy. Or stress. Or anything unpleasant, really."
'Find some tea?' Kate chuckled while also feeling slightly bad for Gwen being unable to shake her flight attendant label. She replied with sarcasm and playful snark; a sort of cousin of dark humor. "Well, if you're taking orders, I'll have--"
The sudden unexpected arrival of James emerging from the trees across from them caught her attention and her humor melted into confusion. There's no way they could have finished burying the body this quickly. Did something go wrong? Did they forget something they'd need? She glanced beyond Sawyer and when it was apparent Jack wasn't with him, she looked back at Sawyer's smug, no-shits-to-give air and just knew that Sawyer had ditched Jack, leaving him to deal with things on his own. Her confusion melted into angry annoyance.
Kate got to her feet, almost forgetting her manners. "Excuse me a sec, Gwen," she said as she headed over to Sawyer, hoping to speak to him outside of Gwen's earshot. They'd made decent progress in distracting Gwen and now it might have been all undone.
"What the hell, James?" she asked quietly as she stopped in front of him with a knowing expression. She knew him pretty well, better than she knew he'd prefer, saw beyond the bullshit and the asshole facade--not that he couldn't be a complete asshole at times--and had really gotten to understand his whole thing after having found that letter, a fact that was a reminder every time she called him by his real name.
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